Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

October 17, 2011

Adamawa

Out of 5,907 persons, who were for HIV and AIDS in nine local government areas of Adamawa, tested positive to the condition, a non-governmental organisation has reported.

The Adamawa office of the Management Sciences for Health (MSH) stated that the number was among 75,746 people, who were tested for the condition.

The state team leader of the organisation, Dr Johnson Fagbamigbe, told newsmen in Yola recently that 2,414 of those living with the condition had been placed on life saving drugs.

Benue

Alhaji Ahmed Baba, the Chairman, Benue Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board said on Wednesday in Makurdi that at least 540 prospective pilgrims would be transported to Saudi Arabia.

Baba, told newsmen in Makurdi that out of the number, 257 including officials, were sponsored by both the state and local governments.

The Chairman announced that all the necessary travelling documents had been concluded, adding that a total of 400 visas were obtained.

Borno

Two men, Nasir Idil and Mohammed, has pleaded guilty in a Magistrates’ Court in Maiduguri to a charge of stealing 78 solar batteries worth more than N2 million and belonging to Chibok Local Government.

The accused are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing punishable under 97(1) and 287 of the Penal Code.

In his First Information Report (FIR), the prosecutor, Richard Balami, told the court that the accused, living in Gwange ward of Maiduguri metropolis, on June 18 conspired and stole the batteries.

When the charge sheet was read to the accused persons, they pleaded guilty.

FCT

The Minister of Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafia, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to transform the environment sector.

Mailafia said this at a reception organised in her honour by the Kubau Local Government Council in Kaduna State, a statement signed by Clement Egbeama, an Assistant Director (Media), in the ministry.

The statement, in Abuja, quoted the minister as saying that the present administration was poised for the sustainable development of the country.

She promised to implement the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act “strictly” in line with the transformation agenda of the present administration.

Mailafia also said that the ministry would increase the present forest coverage in the country from six per cent to10 per cent by 2013, adding that 1,500 km of Green Wall Sahara would be established in the 11 frontline states.

Jigawa

The Chairman of Jigawa Pilgrim Welfare Board, Alhaji Tukur Gantsa, has announced the transportation of the first batch of 550 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

Gantsa made this known in Dutse on Thursday in an interview with newsmen.

He said the intending pilgrims, who boarded Max airline, took off from Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano at about 2 a.m.

He added that those in the first batch were intending pilgrims from Birniwa, Kirikasama, Malamadori, Kaugama and Gwaram Local Government areas of the state.

The chairman stated that adequate arrangement had been made for a comfortable accommodation for the pilgrims during their stay for the religious endeavour in the Holy Land.

Gantsa also gave assurance that the free feeding for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia which the state government started about four years ago would continue.

Earlier, the Amir Hajj and the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Abubakar Maje, had urged the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the country in Saudi Arabia.

Kaduna

The Chief Imam, Wharf Road Mosque Forum, Alhaji Muhammad Isah, has attributed conflicts in Nigeria to the lack of proper religious knowledge and fear of God..

Isah made the observation in a paper he presented on Peaceful Co-existence and Security Sensitisation at a workshop organised by the Ministry for Local Government and Mindscope Resources Ltd in Kaduna on Wednesday.

“Religion must be a tool for progress and peaceful co-existence between people’, he said

The Director, Training, Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, Rev. Bitrus Dangiwa, said the most effective cure for conflicts was obedience to biblical injunctions. .

He said those who killed to gain power or wealth would pass to eternal condemnation while the merciful, loving and peacemakers would live happily in paradise.

Katsina

The Katsina State Government is to sponsor 50 students to study medicine, nursing, Arabic and computer studies in Sudan this academic session.

This is contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Mohammed Sani, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Relations and issued in Katsina.

The statement noted that the sponsorship brings the number of students sponsored by the state government to study in Sudan to 250, during Gov. Ibrahim Shema’s administration.

Lagos

A former Lagos State Governor, Chief Bola Tinubu has said that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had no regrets giving Gov. Babatunde Fashola a second term ticket.

Tinubu, who lauded Fashola for his achievements in his first term, said the party was proud of him.

“The party has no regrets for endorsing him for a second tenure.

“The governor has been able to turn Lagos into a mega and very friendly city with the meagre resources available in the state,’’ he told a rally of ACN supporters at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

Tinubu, who is the leader of the party, urged the people to vote en masse for the party’s candidates in the October 22 council polls.

“ACN chairmen and councilors will continue to replicate what had been done at the state level in the councils,’’ he said.

He called for a review of the nation’s revenue allocation formula in a bid to give more money to the councils and states for the development of the grassroots.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Government has appointed Mr Emmanuel Jatau, as the new rector of the state polytechnic in Lafia to replace Mr Michael Ibrahim.

According to a statement issued and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Hamza Elayo, in Lafia, the appointment is with immediate effect.

Until his appointment, Jatau was the Director, College of Remedial and General Studies of the polytechnic.

Ibrahim had been on the post in an acting capacity for the past four years.

Oyo

Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole has said that current flood disasters in Africa are caused by unguided interaction between man and the environment.

Adewole made the statement while declaring open a three-day conference on climate change, organised by Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation, (AvH Kollege) Germany, in conjunction with the University of Ibadan.

The theme of the conference is; “Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Cultural and Techno-environmental Response in West Africa’’.

He said that natural disasters could be curtailed if sustainable knowledge and human environment interaction was assured.

Sokoto

Alhaji Jibril Danmalam, the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) in Sokoto State says his command has arrested two persons for allegedly circulating fake United States dollars in the state.

Danmalam, who paraded the suspects before newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday, said that they had been charged to court.

“The suspects have since been charged to the Chief Magistrate Court III in Sokoto where they pleaded guilty to the crime, but have not been sentenced,” he said.

The director said that one Kakale Jega, aged 60, who is the prime suspect in the scam, was arrested in his house on Sept. 23, at Gidan-Shawara in Jega town, Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi.

Danmalam said that Jega was responsible for smuggling the fake US dollars into Sokoto State from his base in Kebbi.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

3 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) says it has strengthened collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enhance quality control and enforcement frameworks.

Mr Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, the Head of Communications, REAN, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the collaboration would also involve stakeholder engagement on testing, certification and capacity building in Nigeria.

He said the synergy would strengthen quality control and enforcement frameworks, promote policy alignment, and ensure stronger regulation across the renewable energy value chain.

“REAN reaffirms its commitment to standardisation and quality assurance; tighter collaboration with SON is critical to eliminating fake and substandard renewable energy products from the Nigerian market.

“Enforcement and gaps in existing standards have continued to allow inferior products to circulate, undermining consumer confidence and slowing sector growth.”

Lloyd-Dietake said that at high-level discussions, REAN also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory coordination to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy space.

According to him, the issues include inconsistencies in standards, affordability issues linked to certification processes; and the increasing presence of substandard solar and renewable energy equipment in the country.

“The association further raised concerns about delays in product testing and approval, calling for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the system,’’ he said.

Lloyd-Dietake urged closer collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency.

He said such team work would ensure harmonised standards and more effective enforcement against fake renewable energy products in the Nigerian market.

In response, SON acknowledged the important role REAN continued to play in supporting standardisation within Nigeria’s renewable energy industry and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen collaboration with the association.

SON further confirmed that REAN would be actively involved in future standard review processes and upcoming stakeholder engagements related to renewable energy and electric mobility standards development.

Lloyd-Dietake said REAN affirmed its willingness to formalise the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said the MoU is aimed at deepening cooperation, promoting quality assurance, and accelerating Nigeria’s transition towards reliable and standardised renewable energy solutions.

Nation

Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

Published

3 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, implemented by Self Help Africa, has expanded access to safe water and sanitation services for more than 320,000 people in Kano and Cross River States.

The organisation disclosed this on Tuesday at the WS4H National Results and Learning Workshop in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed achievements and lessons from the intervention.

Speaking at the event, Self Help Africa Country Director, Joy Aderele, said the programme demonstrated that sustainable WASH improvements require strong institutions, effective governance, adequate financing and collaboration.

Aderele said the UK-funded programme was designed to strengthen systems that support sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

According to her, the intervention focused on improving governance, planning, financing, accountability and sector coordination to ensure resilient service delivery.

“More than 320,000 people now have improved or restored access to water services through programme-supported interventions,” she said.

She added that more than 5,520 household toilets were constructed in Yala and Makoda Local Government Areas, boosting sanitation, public health and efforts to end open defecation.

Aderele said the programme also strengthened public investment in WASH, with Cross River increasing its sector budget by 211 per cent in 2026 and Kano by 169.07 per cent.

She added that dedicated WASH budget lines had been established across 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in both states, strengthening accountability and institutional commitment.

According to her, both states reviewed and adopted updated WASH policies, while key planning documents were developed to guide future investments and service delivery.

She said Cross River also recorded a major legislative milestone through the passage of the Water Law and Open Defecation Prohibition Bill.

Aderele added that lessons from interventions in Yala LGA were already informing expansion efforts in Obubra Local Government Area.

While commending the achievements, she noted that capacity gaps, resource constraints and climate-related pressures remained challenges to sustainable WASH services.

“The sustainability of these gains will depend on continued government leadership, adequate financing, strong partnerships and investment in institutional capacity,” she said.

Also speaking, the Programme Manager of WS4H, Mr Timothy Ibeawuchi, said the intervention focused on strengthening systems needed to sustain gains and attract future investments.

According to him, the programme engages stakeholders in developing strategies that preserve achievements and support long-term service delivery.

“System strengthening work takes time because it addresses the fundamental issues responsible for sustainable and resilient service delivery,” he said.

Ibeawuchi said the programme strengthened policy development, planning, financing, monitoring and evaluation systems across the WASH sector.

He said two pilot local government areas were supported to develop WASH strategic plans outlining sector goals, targets and activities between 2026 and 2030.

According to him, the plans will guide future interventions and improve service delivery in the affected councils.

Earlier, the representative of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Chidera Chukwu, reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s development efforts in spite of the programme nearing completion.

Chukwu commended the Self Help Africa-led consortium for delivering the programme with professionalism and a strong focus on systems strengthening.

He said the consortium contributed greatly to strengthening Nigeria’s WASH sector through policy reforms, improved coordination and enhanced accountability.

“Together, we have advanced key policy and legislative reforms, including open defecation-free laws and strengthened state WASH frameworks,” he said.

According to him, the reforms represent enduring system-level changes that will continue delivering benefits beyond the programme’s lifespan.

In his remarks, Mr Jamilu Habu, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, commended the programme’s achievements.

Habu, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the intervention strengthened governance, coordination, evidence-based planning and institutional capacity in the WASH sector.

He described the workshop as an opportunity to review achievements, share lessons and identify pathways for sustaining and scaling successful interventions.

According to him, the programme’s innovations and best practices will guide future policies and investments aimed at expanding access to safe WASH services.

Habu stressed the need for continued collaboration among governments, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.

He said stronger partnerships remained essential to achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Nation

Lagos Residents Stranded As Floods Cut Off Ajah, Mafoluku Communities

Published

3 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Ajah, Mafoluku and other flood-prone communities in Lagos have recounted how Thursday’s torrential rainfall left them stranded, submerged homes and cut off access to major roads.

The residents, who spoke with Tide source, on Friday called for urgent government intervention to tackle the recurring flooding blamed on poor drainage infrastructure.

Along Mobil Road in Ajah, Mrs Rukayat said floodwaters submerged about 200 metres of the road, forcing commuters to wade through waist-deep water.

“The water level was almost up to my lap. People literally had to wade through it to get home,” she said.

According to her, many motorists turned back, while others abandoned their vehicles and continued their journeys on foot.

“The only way to pass through the water was by walking or using a tricycle. Even then, the tricycles broke down and had to be pushed,” she said.

Rukayat said some youths assisted stranded tricycle operators by pushing their vehicles through flooded sections for a fee.

She said residents had repeatedly alerted authorities to the flooding but little had changed.

“We reported this when the rains started, but apparently nothing has been done about the problem,” she said.

She attributed the flooding to poor drainage and possible blockage of a major canal serving the area.

“There is a big canal here, but I don’t know what is preventing water from flowing through it properly,” she said.

According to her, overgrown vegetation and sand deposits might have obstructed the canal, reducing its capacity to discharge stormwater.

She added that although floodwaters usually receded after a few hours, sections of the road remained waterlogged.

In Mafoluku, residents said several streets, homes and access roads were submerged, leaving many unable to return home after going about their daily activities.

Mrs Iriagbonse Okunkpolor, a resident of Agboola Street, said what began as a short trip to buy household items became an hours-long ordeal.

“I left my house to buy a few items nearby, but the rain started suddenly and flooded the entire street.

“I was stranded for hours because there was no safe way back home,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Mukaila Idris, described the flooding as both dangerous and distressing.

“The current was very strong. I watched people pay young men to carry them across the water because they were afraid of being swept away or falling,” he said.

According to him, only physically fit residents could navigate the floodwaters safely, while many others waited several hours for the water level to subside.

Mr Williams Ekpo, who lives in the Eyinogun area, said the flood extended beyond the roads and entered residential compounds.

“The floodwater entered our compound and damaged some household items.

“This happens almost every rainy season, yet nothing seems to be done to address the drainage problem,” he said.

The residents urged the relevant authorities to investigate the persistent flooding and improve drainage infrastructure to prevent a recurrence during the rainy season.